Excursion Report on One Day Tour to

Chikhaldara

Introduction
The Study Tour as per the curriculum was an exposure to a
place of confluence of rain and cold which was delight to watch for
the eyes. Chikhaldara is a cold place, where rain falls much. A report
has to be prepared by all M. Sc. – 1st and M. Sc. – 2nd year Botany
students. The tour programme of “Vidya Bharati College, Amravati”
was planned by “Botany Department” for a day. It was a journey
from Amravati to Chikhaldara. We covered “Mini waterfall, Hariken
(Hurricane Point), Narnala Fort, Bhim Kund(Kichakdara) Waterfall,
Panchbol Point, Monkey Point, Devi Point, and lastly Sunset Point” in
between.
 Objectives
The 1st objective of our tour was to collect different Bryophyta
and Algae species like “Cosmarium, Chlorella, Pogonatum,
Marchantia, Anthoceros, Plagiochasma” etc. The 2nd objective is to
watch the beauty and creativity of nature in Cikhaldara. This place is
a lovely combination of greenery with rain and fog. The expected
outcome includes providing situations for the student-teachers to
learn and get acquainted with the process of organizing/conducting a
study tour/field work and understanding the environment around.

Tour Report
We gathered in our college campus at around 6:45 am. One
bus and one cruiser were booked for the tour. Started from the
college at 8 am students take their seats in cruiser while the
remaining students sat in the bus and by dancing and enjoying our
journey from Amravati to Chikhaldara started with the guidance of
our teachers Dr. Pulate Sir, Dr. Lubna Khalid Mam and Aakash
Pandey Sir. At 10 am we ate breakfast at ‘Suresh Cafe’. After a small
breakfast pause we again resumed our journey. In the middle near
Chickhaldara we collected some samples of ‘Anthoceros’. We
reached our 1st destination ‘Mini waterfall’ at around 12:30 pm. As
we are so much hungry so we ate lunch which we brought with us
from the tiffins. We shared our tiffins with each other.

Some other points visited by us during the

tour of Chikhaldara
Mini Waterfall
This is small but a delight to watch waterfall in Chikhaldara. A
huge flow of water is falling from the dam like wall. There was so
much greenery surrounding. Watching Green plants with white
water falling is really a treat for the eyes to watch. We took so many
photos and selfies there. We spend some time there and went to our
next spot.
Hariken (Hurricane Point)-The Picture
Perfect Point
It is a place where you can Experience the grand show of
lush greens and picturesque-views at ‘Hurricane Point’ in
Chikhaldara. A trip to ‘Hurricane Point’ for about half an hour is
highly advisable before venturing into the hills for relishing a picture-
perfect vista of Chikhaldara. A lush green and foggy natural view is
what ‘Hurricane Point’ in Chikhaldara famous for, here you will
experience the connection with nature and its limitless creations.
There is a garden here overlooking the deep valley opposite to it. An
incredible view is what this point endows us with. Start your day with
foggy visit to this place; it is merely half an hour drive from the
center of Chikhaldara. We ate lunch from our tiffins which we
brought with us from home at this point.
 Gavilgarh Fort
Another place to visit in Chiikhaldara is the ‘Gawilgarh Fort’
which was constructed in the 12th century by a ‘Gawali King’. The fort
now partially in runs can still amaze visitors with its majestic beauty.
Tourists come here to explore the fort and also to enjoy the scenic
view it provides. It is situated at a distance of 15 kms from the
Melghat and is a must visit place. This fort was ruled by ‘Mughals’ for
260 years and then by the British. ‘Gawilgrah’ is located on a
Chikhaldara Plateau. However this fort built in mud was fortified by
the Bahamani being ‘Ahmad Shah Wali’. The fort wrote further
underwent fortification around 1471. The ‘Forte Stand’ on a lofty
mountain consists of an inner fort. The “Fatheh Darwaza, Kichakdara
Darwaza and Delhi Darwaza”. The ‘Delhi Darwaza’ consists of three
gateways. The outermost gateways have a symbol with a “Palm tree
with on a both either side tiger holding in its close and mouse five
elegant”. The ‘Gawilgarh Fort’ is regarded as superior fort in strength
and lofty and to be master of ‘Gawilgarh men of mistry of Berar’.

Bhim Kund (Kichakdara) Waterfall

 It is mythological important place for pilgrims. ‘Bhima’ killed
‘Kichaka’ and throw his body in the valley called 'Kichakdara' and he
bath in the nearby lake, which is then reknowned as ‘Bhim-Kund’.
This place is situated in south near ‘Alladhoh’ village on the way from
Paratwada to Chikhaldara via Motha. ‘Bhim-Kund’ is nearly 3500 ft.
deep. It offers fascinating view of the waterfall and cascades during
rainy season. It is recognizing on the ‘Bir Point’. The noisy waterfall
surrounded by the deep greenery is delight to watch. Apart from the
wonderful and noisy waterfalls, this place has the spiritual and
historical significance as well. Experience and recreate the
mythological significance at ‘Bhim-kund’.

Panchbol Point
There are many places to see in Chikhaldara but this is one of
the unique points to see. This point is situated close to the ‘Bir Lake’.
As the name implies, if anyone screams here, their voice would be
echoed five times, this makes the point distinct. This is one of the
famous and important point, we can experience the magic of nature
here. There is a tar road from the ‘Bir Lake’ towards this valley from
north side. We can see coffee plantation on the way where we going
towards this point. This is at 4km from ‘Bir Lake’. This is very deep
valley. The five hills edges are connected naturally which are also
connected to all valleys and finally it becomes a common huge valley.
We can hear reflected sounds five times when shouted loudly there.
That's why this point is known as “Five Eco Point” or commonly
called “Panchbol Point”. Actually we can heard four return voice is to
heard, the fifth one is not clearly heard. Tourists come to this point
and enjoy the fun of shouting and hearing their own echoes.

Monkey Point
There is a “Maharashtra Forest Rainger's College” on the road
of 'Vairat'. The ‘Monkey Point’ is at the college area. The deep valley
is going from this point. The base of this valley is not seen in our
naked eyes. There is no railing on this point. You can see so many
monkeys wandering and jumping here and there.
 Devi Point
It is one of the best places to visit near Chikhaldara which
contains a temple of the native goddess. This point is nearer to the
‘Shakkar Lake’ where we done boating and it is at 1.5km from
Chikhaldara Bus Station. We have to go down by using steps. There is
a temple of Goddess inside the huge stone. We have to enter the
temple carefully because the height is very short. The water is falling
continuously from that stone inside the temple. The overflow water
falling from ‘Shakkar Lake’ is looking like a waterfall. This Goddess is
main and important holy place for 'Korku'. Tourists can enjoy the
sight of Amravati Fort from the peak of this point. Devi point is very
near to ‘Gavilgarh Fort’ and is a very nice place. ‘Devi point’ is a
temple under the mountain, made up of the rocks. Water keeps
falling from the ceiling. Visitors really love to visit this place.
 Sunset Point
The point is situated on the ‘Vairat Hills’ at ‘Vairat’. This is
considered to be ‘King’s Vairat’ capital in the Mahabharata era.
Sunset is very attractive to see. Chikhaldara in the east from here and
on west laid the numerous hill ranges befitting the name ‘Satpuda’.

Conclusion
Entire students took their respective seats in the bus and
cruiser and in the middle we took tea and our returning journey to
Amravati started. During the tour we visited many points such as “
Mini waterfall, Hariken (Hurricane Point), Narnala Fort, Bhim
Kund(Kichakdara) Waterfall, Panchbol Point, Monkey Point, Devi
Point, and lastly Sunset Point”. Thus, “VBMV Study Tour 2018” has
come to full circle as we touched our College Campus at about 10
pm. Each one of were tired but contented for sure. All the students
and teachers went to their houses. As we slept that night we were all
rejuvenated and very much ready to welcome a clear morning of
vivid colours of sky and grass, the wide view of the horizons, the
‘Cold’ and ‘Green’ place of Chikhaldara, and the open green fields of
our College grounds. And by this way our one day tour to
Chikhaldara was successfully completed which we will never forget in
our life.